In a heart-stopping encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9, 2025, India beat New Zealand to win their third ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With the fearless Rohit Sharma leading the charge and the calm KL Rahul holding the fort, India chased down a tough target of 252 in 49 overs, securing a four-wicket victory that made them the most successful team in the tournament’s legacy.
The final reflected India’s resilience and depth. New Zealand, who batted first, set up a fighting 251 with a gutsy effort despite losing their talismanic captain, Kane Williamson, to a quad strain at the start of the second innings. Williamson’s loss was a setback, but the Blackcaps battled hard. Their spinners, led by Mitchell Santner, kept India on their toes while chasing. But it was India’s old warhorses who stole the show.
Rohit Sharma, the mastermind behind India’s victory, delivered a captain’s innings that will be talked about for years to come. His dogged effort set the tone, combining aggression with caution as he tackled a spin-friendly Dubai track.
Sharma’s captaincy was in full flow, and he led the team through nerve-wracking phases when wickets tumbled in bunches. Shreyas Iyer supported his captain with a match-winning effort, establishing himself as a big-match player. Iyer’s pressure-taking ability and his ability to find gaps in the field kept India in the running despite New Zealand’s bowlers making a late charge.
The final touches, though, were KL Rahul. With the equation getting tighter and nerves fraying in the stands, Rahul displayed his signature calm. His measured stroke play, which ended in the winning runs, quietened critics and reaffirmed his worth as a finisher. Chasing 252 on a bowler-friendly surface was no cakewalk, but Rahul’s ice-cool temperament saw India reach the finish line with an over to spare.
This win is India’s third Champions Trophy title, after their joint victory in 2002 and sole victory in 2013. It also contributes to their impressive 2025, following the T20 World Cup victory in June 2024. The team’s unbeaten streak in Dubai during the tournament—victory in all five games—demonstrated their dominance and versatility. India’s spin quartet, comprising Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, had previously torn New Zealand’s batting apart, while the batting unit came to the fore when they needed to.
The defeat hurts New Zealand, as they miss out on a second Champions Trophy, their sole triumph in 2000 against India. However, their performance was enough to give them deserved credit for reaching the final, with a 50-run semi-final victory over South Africa as part of their run.
For the fans, this victory is not just a trophy—it’s a reflection of a golden age of Indian cricket, spearheaded by legends such as Sharma and Rahul, who continue to mold the country’s cricketing heritage.